Anant Chaturdashi 2023: Know About It’s Rich History And Celebrations!

Are you ready to celebrate the divine cycle of life? Get ready for Anant Chaturdashi 2023! Anant Chaturdashi, also called Anant Chaturthi, is a vibrant festival that marks the end of Ganesh Chaturthi and Paryushan. It’s a day filled with joy, prayers, and community spirit. Devotees all across India come together to seek the blessings of the deities. You can perform various rituals on this festival to reap its benefits and get Lord Anant’s blessings. Join in the festivities and discover the significance of this celebration!

• 2023 Anant Chaturthi Date – September 28 2023, Thursday
• Anant Chaturdashi 2023 Puja Muhurat – 06:12 AM to 06:49 PM
• Tithi Begins – 10:18 PM on September 27 2023
• Tithi Ends – 06:49 PM on September 28 2023

What is Anant Chaturdashi?

Anant Chaturdashi is a very significant festival. Both Hindus, as well as Jains celebrate it with great enthusiasm. It takes place on the 14th day of the waxing moon during the month of Bhadrapada. Devotees across the country pray to Lord vishnu on this day. Praying to him gives many blessings to the devotees and their families. On this day, devotees also bid farewell to Lord Ganesha, who returns to his heavenly abode after residing on earth.

Importance of Anant Chaturdashi in Hinduism

The day of Anant Chaturdashi holds great importance in the Hindu as well as Jain communities. It falls on the 14th day of the Hindu lunar calendar’s fortnight of Bhadrapad month. It also marks the end of the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. 

The festival of Anant Chaturdashi originates from the epic Mahabharata. People celebrate it as the day of lord Vishnu. According to mythology, Lord Vishnu created 14 Lokas. He then came down to the mortal world in the form of 14 different avatars to protect them. 

This auspicious festival gives us an opportunity to please the Lord and receive his blessings. Fasting and reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama stotra on this day certainly fulfils one’s wishes. It also brings wealth, abundance, and prosperity into your life. People in many states of India celebrate Anant Chaturdashi by hearing folk tales of Lord Vishnu with their family members during this day.

Importance of Anant Chaturdashi in Jainism

There is a great significance of Anant Chaturdashi in Jainism also. One of the most significant teachings of Anant Chaturdashi is devotion and kindness. These qualities hold great importance in Jainism.

Paryushan is a very important festival for the Jain community. It is a festival that celebrates forgiveness as well as good deeds. Anant Chaturdashi falls on the last day of Paryushan, which goes on for 10 days.

Additionally, the end of Paryushan also marks the beginning of Samvatsari. Samvatsari is another very important Jain festival which represents kindness and compassion for all. Anant Chaturdashi falls at the beginning of the Samvatsari festival.

Also Read: Dev Uthani Ekadashi: An Ideal Time To Seek God’s Blessings

Rituals to perform on Anant Chaturdashi

Devotees perform many rituals to celebrate Anant Chaturdashi across the country. These rituals undoubtedly bring the blessings of Lord Vishnu. To receive divine blessings, follow these rituals on Anant Chaturdashi 2023. 

1. Preparations for Puja 

• People wake up early in the morning, take a bath and dress in clean clothes. Then, they remember their beloved God to start the day.
• People put puris and sweets made of bread on decorated wooden altars. 
• They keep these offerings on fourteen tilaks made of kumkum. This represents the fourteen divine qualities of Lord Vishnu. These wooden altars are the seats for the god.
• Additionally, people light lamps and incense sticks. They also offer fruits and flowers to please the deity.

2. Anant Sutra

• The Anant Sutra is the most significant part of the rituals performed during Anant Chaturdashi.
• It is an auspicious red thread made of Mauli. People tie fourteen knots on the thread, and afterwards, they tie it to a cucumber. 
• Then, they twist it five times in the panchamrit. This is an especially auspicious threat which gives the devotees protection and prosperity. People also call it the Raksha Sutra.
• Afterwards, devotees tie this on their arms to receive the divine blessings of God. Men wear it on their right sleeve, whereas women wear it on their left sleeve. 
• They wear it for fourteen days for this purpose, and then they immerse it in a holy river or lake. 

3. Anant Puja and Vrat

• People perform Anant Puja by offering coconut, banana as well as betel leaves. They also sing Anant Chaturdashi Stotram, which praises the infinite qualities of the Lord.
• Afterwards, devotees make Panchamrit- a sacred mix of milk, honey, jaggery, curd, Ganga jal and other ingredients especially dear to the deity. Panchamrit represents the divine ocean of milk.
• Devotees also keep a fast to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu. Anant Vrat is the name of the fast, which means the infinite.
• People believe that keeping this fast shows your love and devotion towards the deity, and Lord Vishnu blesses you with infinite fortune and prosperity. 

4. Anant Chaturthi 2023 Vrat Katha

The Anant Chaudas Katha is a story about the Anant vow. People who keep the Vrat hear this story. Devotees read or listen to the Katha on the day of Anant Chaturthi because it gives great benefits.

Sushila Married Kaundinya, and they left their house. Afterwards, they stopped next to a river while travelling. Kaundinya wanted to take a bath, and that’s when Sushila saw a group of female devotees worshipping lord “Anant.” This made her curious, and she asked about the worship.

Also Read: Durga Ashtami 2023: The Festival Of Strength And Femininity!

5. Lord Anant’s vow

The women explained the rituals and significance of the Anant vow to her. People tie a silk ribbon to the wrist and keep it in front of God. The ribbon is called “Anant”. It has 14 knots, and people cover it in Kumkum. Men tie the “anant” on their right hand, while women tie it on their left. The vow also involves offering fried “Gharga” (made of flour) and “Anarasa” (a special meal). It is then distributed to the Brahmins.  

Upon seeing his wife following these rituals, Kaundinya got extremely angry. Sushila tied the string on her left arm, which was removed by Kaundinya and thrown into the fire. Following this, they experienced several tragedies. This also led to them losing their wealth and prosperity. Kaundinya realised it was a punishment for disrespecting Lord Anany. Therefore, he decided to perform extreme penance to impress the god. 

6. Kaundinya’s search for Lord Anant 

Furthermore, Kaundinya went to look for the deity. As a result, he entered a forest where he saw a lot of things he could not understand. These things were a tree, a bull, a cow and her calf, a donkey, two lakes as well as an elephant. The tree was in bad condition, the two lakes were merging, and the cow and her calf were in a field. Therefore, he asked all of them about lord Anant, but none of them told him where the deity was.

Then, an experienced Brahmin appeared before him. The Brahmin then saved his life and took him to a place. It was a place where many devotees were gathered. The Brahmin then revealed himself to be none other than Lord Anant. Kaundinya was in great awe of the divine power and hence asked for forgiveness from lord Vishnu.

7. Lord Anant’s explanation

Lord Vishnu then explained the significance of everything Kundinya had witnessed in the forest. The mango tree represented a Brahmin who had acquired great knowledge. However, he chose to keep it to himself. The bull was trapped in a lush field, unable to access food. The cow symbolised the earth, which had consumed all the plant seeds. The donkey was a symbol of cruelty and fury. The elephant represents Kaundinya’s pride. Finally, The two lakes were devoted sisters who spent all their money on each other.  

In summary, Anant Chaturdashi is a significant festival for Hindus and Jains. The festival represents the temporary nature of life and the eternal bond with the divine. Overall, the festival reminds us to be grateful, let go of attachments, and seek divine guidance for a prosperous life. To make Anant Chaturdashi 2023 a meaningful celebration, InstaAstro has our dedicated pandits to help you. Visit our website and download the app!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the benefits of participating in Anant Chaturdashi Vrat?

Keeping the Anant Chaturdashi Vrat allows individuals to express devotion and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha and Lord Vishnu. It brings positive energy and spiritual growth.

2. What is Anant Chaturdashi Jain?

Anant Chaturdashi marks the last day of Paryushan. Jains take a vow to keep fast and devote themselves to self-retrospection.

3. What to eat during Anant Chaturdashi Vrat?

Remember to offer anything you eat to god before you consume it. Devotees may choose to observe a partial or complete fast, abstaining from certain foods or going without food and water.

4. Are there any specific mantras or prayers associated with Anant Chaturdashi?

You can chant the Anant Chaturdashi Mantra on this day to seek Lord Vishnu’s blessings.

5. When does Anant Chaturdashi 2023 end?

Anant Chaturthi 2023 tithi ends at 06:49 PM on September 28 2023.

6. Is Anant Chaturthi a good day?

Anant Chaturthi is an extremely auspicious day for Hindus and Jains. People keep fast on this day for the good health and well-being of family members.

Also Read: Shravan Somvar 2023: History, Signifacance & Rituals

For interesting Astrological Facts and Videos, follow us on Instagram and read your daily horoscope.